Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02952703 2016-12-16
Panel
Technical Field
The invention concerns a panel having at least one pair of complementary
locking means at opposite panel edges, wherein at least one pair of the
locking
means is provided with complementary hook profile portions. Such panels are
used to produce for example floorings, in particular being suitable for
floatingly
laid floorings.
Background Art
DE 20 2008 010555 discloses a panel of the general kind set forth. Its
arresting step and receiving opening are of such a configuration that during a
joining movement the end of the step initially fits to some degree into the
receiving opening without elastic deformation of the hook profile portions and
the hook profile portions are elastically deformed only in the further course
of
the joining movement.
Summary
It has been found that a floatingly laid flooring using the known panels
can be difficult to lay. Both on a hard laying surface and also on a soft
footstep-
damping substrate there are sometimes problems in regard to locking so that
irregularities can occur at the top side of the flooring in the region of the
joins.
The object of the invention is to propose a panel whose complementary
locking means can be better joined and locked both on a hard laying surface
and
also on a soft footstep-damping substrate.
According to the invention that object is attained in that at least one of
the hook profile portions has a compression region.
The compression region of the hook profile portion has a favorable effect
on the lockability of the hook profile portions. Insofar as a hook profile
portion
can be compressed in the compression region that simplifies arriving at the
locked condition. Because compression involves elastic deformation the
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compressed condition is restored again after termination of the locking
operation. The compression region then again assumes a neutral non-
compressed configuration and deploys a locking action which acts in opposition
to the locked panels moving away from each other in a direction perpendicular
to
the panel plane.
In an advantageous configuration the compression region is arranged at
an outwardly directed surface of a panel edge.
In accordance with a further desirable configuration of the invention the
panel has a top side, an underside, a body, complementary locking means which
are provided pair-wise at mutually opposite panel edges, at least one pair of
locking means with hook profile portions, namely a receiving hook and an
arresting hook in opposite relationship thereto, with the proviso that the
receiving hook has arranged remote from the body a hook edge and arranged
closer to the body a receiving recess, wherein the receiving recess is open to
the
top side, that the arresting hook is provided with an arresting recess
arranged
closer to the body and open to the underside, and has an arresting step which
is
arranged remote from the body and which can be inserted into the receiving
recess of the receiving hook in a joining direction provided perpendicularly
to the
plane of the panel, that the arresting hook has a transverse joining surface
remote from the body and likewise remote from the body a vertically acting
arresting contour, that the receiving hook closer to the body has a transverse
joining surface and likewise closer to the body a positively locking contour
which
fits together in positively locking relationship with the arresting contour
remote
from the body of the arresting hook so that locking can be implemented
perpendicularly to the plane of assembled panels, that the arresting hook has
arranged closer to the body a horizontal locking surface at its arresting
step,
that the receiving hook has arranged remote from the body a horizontal locking
surface in the receiving recess, that formed at the receiving hook is a
receiving
opening through which the arresting step can be inserted into the receiving
recess substantially in the joining direction, wherein the arresting contour
and
the positively locking contour form an upper latching means in which the
arresting contour has a female latching element or a male latching element,
and
wherein the positively locking contour has a female latching element or male
latching element complementary to the arresting contour, wherein the male
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latching element and/or the female latching element of the arresting hook has
an upper compression region with an arresting contour with increased
compressibility, and that the male latching element and/or the female latching
element of the receiving hook has an upper compression region with a receiving
contour with increased compressibility.
When the arresting step is inserted into the receiving recess of the
receiving hook that involves on the one hand contact between the arresting
contour and the positively locking contour. In addition it entails contact
between
the horizontal locking surfaces of the arresting hook and the receiving hook.
The
horizontal locking surface of the arresting hook slides down along the
horizontal
locking surface of the receiving hook; they jointly form a support
configuration.
During the joining movement surface pressure occurs between the arresting
contour and the positively locking contour, namely when the compressibly
designed arresting contour comes into contact with the compressible receiving
contour. Compression which then occurs in respect of those two regions makes
it
possible to produce a positively locking connection which provides for
locking/latching perpendicularly to the plane of the panel.
The compressibility of the arresting contour and the receiving contour is
such that a spot load occurring in those regions is produced, or a local
limited
surface pressure which also causes only locally limited compression in those
regions. Compression occurs substantially in the material at the contact
location
at which the spot load/surface pressure is acting. Compressibility in other
words
is increased to such a degree that any other deformation of the hook profile
portions that occurs at a location away from the above-mentioned contact
location, is resisted. Thus for example bending of the hook profile portions
is
resisted.
To lay a flooring it has been found that panels can be more easily laid and
locked on a soft surface if the hook profile portions are of such a
configuration
that deformation of the hook profile portions is resisted away from the above-
mentioned contact location.
A desirable development provides that the hook edge of the receiving
hook and the arresting recess of the arresting hook form a lower latching
means
in which remote from the body at the hook edge of the receiving hook there is
provided a female latching element or a male latching element, and wherein
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close to the body the arresting recess has a female latching element
complementary thereto or a male latching element.
The above-mentioned development can be further promoted in that the
male latching element and/or the female latching element of the arresting hook
has a lower arresting contour with increased compressibility and the male
latching element and/or the female latching element of the receiving hook has
a
lower receiving contour with increased compressibility.
A further advantage is found therein if the body at least partially
comprises a wood material or wood ingredients.
Alternatively the body can at least partially comprise a plastic.
In a configuration the body is produced in the form of a carrier plate
comprising a plastic or a wood-plastic composite material (WPC). The carrier
plate is formed for example from a thermoplastic, elastorner or thermosetting
plastic. In addition recycled materials involving the specified materials can
also
be used in accordance with the invention. Preferably in that respect plate
material is used, in particular comprising thermoplastic material such as
polyvinyl chloride, polyolefins (for example polyethylene (PE), polypropylene
(PP), polyamides (PA), polyurethane (PU), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-
butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC),
polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or mixtures or
co-polymers. In that case irrespective of the basic material of the carrier
plate it
is possible to provide for example plasticizers which can be present for
example
in a range of >0 wt.% to <20 wt.%, in particular <10 wt.%, preferably <7
wt.%, for example in a range of between >5 wt.% and <10 wt.%. A suitable
plasticizer includes for example the plasticizer marketed by BASF under the
trade name "Dinsch". In addition copolymers like for example acrylates or
methacrylates can be provided as a substitute for conventional plasticizers.
In particular thermoplastic materials also offer the advantage that the
products produced therefrom can be very easily recycled. Recycled materials
from other sources can also be used. That affords a further possible way of
reducing the manufacturing costs.
In that respect such carrier plates can be highly elastic or resilient, which
allows a comfortable impression when walking and also can reduce the noise
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occurring when walking in comparison with conventional materials, and it is
thus
possible to provide for improved footstep damping.
In addition the above-mentioned carrier plate affords the advantage of
good water resistance as it involves a swelling of 1% or less. That
surprisingly
also applies, besides pure plastic carriers, to WPC materials, as are
described in
detail hereinafter.
Particularly advantageously the carrier material can have or comprise
wood-polymer materials (wood plastic composite or WPC). Here for example a
wood and a polymer may be suitable, which can be present in a ratio of between
40/60 and 70/30, for example 50/50. As polymer constituents it is possible to
use for example polypropylene, polyethylene or a copolymer of the two above-
mentioned materials. Such materials afford the advantage that they can already
be shaped at low temperatures like for example in a range of between >180 C
and <200 C in the above-described method to constitute a carrier plate so that
particularly effective process implementation, for example with line speeds by
way of example in a region of 6 m/min, can be made possible. For example, for
a WPC product with a 50/50 distribution of the wood and polymer components,
they are possible with a product size by way of example of 4.1 mm, which can
permit a particularly effective manufacturing process.
In particular highly stable panels can be produced in that way, which in
addition enjoy high elasticity, which can be advantageous in particular for
effective and inexpensive design configurations of connecting elements at the
edge region of the carrier plate and in addition in regard to footstep
damping. In
addition the above-mentioned good water compatibility with a swelling effect
of
less than 1% can also be made possible with WPC materials of that kind. In
that
respect WPC materials can have for example stabilizers and/or other additives
which can preferably be present in the plastic component.
Furthermore it can be particularly advantageous if the carrier plate
includes or comprises a PVC-based material. Such materials can also serve in
particularly advantageous fashion for high-quality panels which can also be
used
without any problem for example in wet rooms. In addition PVC-based materials
for the carrier plate also present themselves for a particularly effective
manufacturing process as here for example line speeds of 8 m/rnin can be
possible with a product size for example of 4.1 mm, which can permit a
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particularly effective manufacturing process. In addition such carrier plates
also
have advantageous elasticity and water compatibility, which can result in the
above-mentioned advantages.
In the case of plastic-based panels and also in the case of WPC-based
panels mineral fillers can be of advantage in that case. Here for example
talcum
or also calcium carbonate (chalk), aluminum oxide, silica gel, quartz flour,
wood
powder and gypsum are particularly suitable here. For example chalk can be
provided in a range of between >30 wt.% and <70 wt.%, wherein in particular
slip of the carrier plate can be improved by the fillers, in particular by the
chalk.
They can also be colored in known fashion. In particular it can be provided
that
the material of the carrier plates has a flame resistant agent.
In a particularly preferred configuration of the invention the material of
the carrier plate comprises a mixture of a PE/PP block copolymer with wood. In
that case the proportion of the PE/PP block copolymer and the proportion of
the
wood can be between >45 wt.% and <55 wt.%. In addition the material of the
carrier plate can have between >0 wt.% and <10 wt.% of further additives like
for example flow aid agents, thermo stabilizers or UV-stabilizers. In that
case the
particle size of the wood is between >0 pm and <600 pm with a preferred
particle size distribution D50 of >400 pm. In particular in that case the
material
of the carrier plate can have wood with a particle size distribution D10 of
>400
pm. In that case the particle size distribution is related to the volumetric
diameter and relates to the volume of the particles. Particularly preferably
in
that case the material of the carrier plate is provided in the form of
granulated
or pelleted pre-extruded mixture of a PE/PP block copolymer with wood
particles
of the specified particle size distribution. In that case the granular
material
and/or the pellets can preferably involve approximately a grain size in a
range of
between >400 pm and <10 mm, particularly preferably between >600 pm and
<10 mm, in particular between >800 pm and <10 mm.
In a further preferred configuration of the invention the carrier plate
comprises a mixture of a PE/PP polymer blend with wood. In that case the
proportion of the PE/PP polymer blend and the proportion of the wood can be
between >45 wt.% and <55 wt.%. In addition the material of the carrier plate
can have between >0 wt.% and <10 wt.% of further additives like for example
flow aid agents, thermostabilizers or UV-stabilizers. In that case the
particle size
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of the wood is between >0 pm and <600 pm with a preferred particle size
distribution D50 of >400 pm. In particular the carrier plate can have wood
with
a particle size distribution D10 of >400 pm. The particle size distribution is
related to the volumetric diameter and relates to the volume of the particles.
Particularly preferably in that case the material of the carrier is provided
in the
form of granulated or pelleted pre-extruded mixture of a PE/PP polymer blend
with wood particles of the specified particle size distribution. In that case
the
granular material and/or the pellets can preferably involve approximately a
grain
size in a range of between >400 pm and <10 mm, particularly preferably
between >600 pm and <10 mm, in particular between >800 pm and <10 mm.
In a further configuration of the invention the material of the carrier plate
comprises a mixture of a PP homopolymer with wood. In that case the
proportion of the PP homopolymer and the wood proportion can be between >45
wt.% and <55 wt.%. In addition the material of the carrier plate can have
between >0 wt.% and <10 wt.% of further additives like for example flow aid
agents, thermostabilizers or UV-stabilizers. In that case the particle size of
the
wood is between >0 pm and <600 pm with a preferred particle size distribution
D50 of >400 pm. In particular in that case the carrier plate can have wood
with
a particle size distribution D10 of >400 pm. In that case the particle size
distribution is related to the volumetric diameter and relates to the volume
of
the particles. Particularly preferably in that case the material of the
carrier plate
is provided in the form of granulated or pelleted pre-extruded mixture of a PP
homopolymer with wood particles of the specified particle size distribution.
The
granular material and/or the pellets can in that case preferably be of a grain
size
in a range of between >400 pm and <10 mm, preferably between >600 pm and
<10 mm, in particular between >800 pm and <10 mm. In a further
configuration of the invention the material of the carrier plate comprises a
mixture of a PVC polymer with chalk. In that case the proportion of the PVC
polymer and the chalk proportion can be between >45 wt.% and <55 wt.%. In
addition the material of the carrier plate can have between >0 wt.% and <10
wt. /0 of further additives like for example flow aid agents,
thermostabilizers or
UV-stabilizers. In that case the particle size of the chalk is between >0 pm
and
<600 pm with a preferred particle size distribution D50 of >400 pm. In
particular in that case the material of the carrier plate can have chalk with
a
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particle size distribution D10 of >400 pm. The particle size distribution in
that
case is related to the volumetric diameter and relates to the volume of the
particles. In that case the material of the carrier plate is particularly
preferably
provided in the form of granulated or pelleted pre-extruded mixture of a PVC
polymer with chalk of the specified particle size distribution. In that case
the
granular material and/or the pellets can preferably involve approximately a
grain
size in a range of between >400 pm and <10 mm, particularly preferably
between >600 pm and <10 mm, in particular between >800 pm and <10 mm.
In a further configuration of the invention the material of the carrier plate
comprises a mixture of a PVC polymer with wood. In that case the proportion of
the PVC polymer and the wood proportion can be between >45 wt.% and <55
wt.%. In addition the material of the carrier plate can have between >0 wt.%
and <10 wt. /0 of further additives like for example flow aid agents,
thermostabilizers or UV-stabilizers. In that case the particle size of the
wood is
between >0 pm and <600 pm with a preferred particle size distribution D50 of
>400 pm. In particular the material of the carrier plate can have wood with a
particle size distribution D10 of >400 pm. In that case the particle size
distribution is related to the volumetric diameter and relates to the volume
of
the particles. Particularly preferably in that case the material of the
carrier plate
is provided in the form of granulated or pelleted pre-extruded mixture of a
PVC
polymer with wood particles of the specified particle size distribution. In
that
case the granular material and/or the pellets can preferably involve
approximately a grain size in a range of between 2400 pm and <10 mm,
particularly preferably between >600 pm and <10 mm, in particular between
>800 pm and <10 mm.
For determining the particle size distribution it is possible to have recourse
to the generally known methods like for example laser diffractometry, with
which
method it is possible to determine particle sizes in the range of between some
nanometers up to several millimeters. It is thus also possible to ascertain
D50
and D10 values which are 50% and 10% respectively of the measured particles
smaller than the specified value.
In a further configuration of the invention the material of the carrier plate
can have hollow microspheres. Such additives can provide in particular that
the
density of the carrier plate and thus the panel produced therefrom can be
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significantly reduced so that it is possible to ensure particularly simple and
inexpensive transport and also particularly comfortable laying. In that case
stability of the panel produced can be guaranteed in particular by the
inclusion of
hollow microspheres, the stability being insignificantly reduced in comparison
with a material without hollow microspheres. Thus the stability for a major
part
of applications is totally adequate. In that respect the term hollow
microspheres
can denote in particular structures which have a hollow main body and are of a
size or a maximum diameter which is in the micrometer range. For example
hollow spheres which can be used can be of a diameter which is in the range of
between >5 pm and <100 pm, for example >20 pm and <50 pm. In principle
any material can be considered as the material of the hollow microspheres,
like
for example glass or ceramic. In addition, by virtue of the weight, plastic
materials, for example the plastics which are also used in the carrier
material,
for example PVC, PE or PP, can be advantageous, in which case, for example by
virtue of suitable additives, they can possibly be prevented from deformation
during the manufacturing procedure.
The hardness of the material of the carrier plate can be of values in a
range of 30-90 N/mm2 (measured in accordance with Brinell). The modulus of
elasticity can be in a range of between 3000 and 7000 N/mm2.
In a further configuration of the invention the increased compressibility
can be afforded by the choice of the material of the body which is of a
hardness
(Brinell hardness) in a range of 30-90 N/mm2. In addition the material of the
body can advantageously involve a modulus of elasticity in a range of between
3000 and 7000 N/mm2 to achieve the increased compressibility.
In a preferred configuration of the invention it can be provided that the
carrier plate is produced by means of a method having at least the following
method steps:
a) providing a pourable carrier material, in particular a granulate,
b) arranging the carrier material between two belt-like conveyor means,
c) shaping the carrier material under the action of temperature with the
production of a web-form carrier,
d) compressing the carrier, and
e) processing the carrier under the action of pressure using a two-belt
press, wherein the carrier is cooled in or upstream of the two-belt press.
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It was possible surprisingly to show that the above-described method can
make it possible to combine particularly advantageous manufacture of in
particular a carrier or a carrier plate for a wall or floor panel with
materials which
are particularly preferred for manufacture of the carrier of the panel by
virtue of
their outstanding properties. In that respect, a method of manufacturing in
particular a carrier with outstanding materials of a decorated wall or floor
panel
can be made possible with improved effectiveness by a combination of the
above-described method steps, which method in addition allows the production
of extremely adaptable and very stable panels which at the same time have the
material properties which are suitable for the locking means provided
according
to the invention, with a compression region. It is thus possible to easily
produce
panels which can have preferred properties.
In a further configuration of the above-described method further cooling
of the carrier can be implemented prior to subsequent further processing, as
method step f).
Firstly, in accordance with the present method, a carrier or a core is
produced. For that purpose the above-described method includes in accordance
with method step a) firstly the provision of a pourable carrier material. The
carrier material serves as a basis for manufacture of in particular plate-
shaped
carriers for panels. It can be present for example in the form of a unitary
material or can be in the form of a material mixture comprising two or more
materials. In that respect the carrier material or at least a constituent of
the
carrier material should have a melting point or a softening temperature to
shape
the carrier material in a further method step by the action of heat, as is
described in detail hereinafter. In a particularly advantageous fashion the
carrier
material can be provided as a pourable solid or in the form of a granular
material, wherein, in dependence on the material used, purely by way of
example, the granular material can be for example of a grain size in a range
of
between >100 pm and <10 mm. That allows storability without any problem and
also affords particularly good adaptability to a desired material composition.
For,
particularly in granular form, it is possible to produce a particularly
homogeneous mixture of various constituents, in which case it is possible to
produce a particularly defined mixture with an accurately adjustable
composition. By way of example it is possible to use so-called dry blends,
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CA 02952703 2016-12-16
to say dry plastic powder with additives. In addition a granular material, in
particular in the above-described size range, can be distributed highly
homogeneously and also in very defined fashion on a substrate surface so that
it
is possible to produce a carrier with a very well defined property profile.
Preferred pouring or distribution of the carrier material can in that case
involve a
deviation in respect of the bulk density of <5%, in particular <3%.
In accordance with method step b) the pourable, in particular granular,
carrier material is arranged between two belt-like conveyor means. In detail a
lower belt-like conveyor means is displaced with a circulatory movement and an
upper belt-like conveyor means is displaced in a circulatory movement at a
defined spacing relative to the lower conveyor means. The carrier material can
thus be applied to the lower conveyor means and then limited by the lower and
the upper conveyor means. In that case it is possible to dispense with lateral
limiting means by virtue of precise scattering of the carrier material. The
carrier
material can thus be conveyed to or through individual processing stations by
the two conveyor means, and processed to constitute a carrier. In addition the
carrier material can already be pre-formed in that method step. Thus the belt-
like conveyor means can perform two functions, namely that of a transport
means and that of a shaping means.
In that case the belt-like conveyor means, at least in the region of the
two-belt press, as is described hereinafter, is at least partially made from
Teflon
or from polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). For example the belts can be formed
completely from polytetrafluorethylene or it is possible to use belts which
are
provided with an outer coating of polytetrafluorethylene. In the latter case
for
example it is possible to use glass fiber-reinforced plastic belts or also
steel
belts. By virtue of the anti-adhesion properties of that material such
conveyor
means can provide that a particularly well-defined, for example smooth surface
can be produced on the carrier manufactured. It is thus possible to prevent
the
conveyed carrier material from adhering to the conveyor means and thus
adversely influencing the surface structure directly or by adhering material
in a
following cycle. In addition polytetrafluorethylene is resistant to chemicals
and
also to decomposition even at high temperatures so that on the one hand
temperature treatment of the carrier material is possible without any problem
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and in addition the conveyor means can also be stable for a long period of
time.
Furthermore the carrier material can be freely selected.
In that arrangement the conveyor means can pass through the entire
apparatus or they can be interrupted and can be in the form of a plurality of
conveyor means.
Discharge of the carrier material in accordance with method step b) can
be implemented in particular by means of one or a plurality of scatter heads
which can discharge the carrier material in defined fashion. In regard to the
scatter heads they may be for example a component part of a scatter assembly
and can have at least one rotating scatter roller. For example it is possible
to
provide a hopper which can discharge the material to be discharged on to the
scatter roller in a defined fashion. A doctor can further be provided, which
spreads the material in recesses in the roller. The material can then be
discharged from the scatter roller by means of a rotating brush roller, in
which
case it impinges against a baffle plate and slides from there on to the
conveyor
means. A scatter width adjustment can also be provided to regulate the scatter
width. In this configuration particularly homogeneous discharge of the carrier
material can be effected, which can equally result in a homogeneous carrier of
defined quality.
For example it is possible to provide one scatter head or two, three or
more scatter heads. In that way the carrier can be in particular wet-cuttable
in a
particularly simple fashion, insofar as for example a desired material mixture
can
be produced. In this configuration the mixture can be adapted without any
problem during the manufacturing process or between two batches so as to be
able to ensure a particularly high level of variability. In addition a mixture
for the
carrier material can be produced only directly prior to the processing
operation,
by virtue of the individual scatter heads being differently equipped, so that
it is
possible to avoid adverse influencing of the various components with each
other
and a resulting reduction in the quality of the carrier produced.
In a further step, in accordance with method step c), shaping of the
carrier material disposed between the belt-like conveyor means is effected
under
the action of temperature or heat. In this method step the heat or temperature
acting on the material thus causes the carrier material or at least a part
thereof
to melt or soften, whereby for example the granular material can become
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shapable. In that condition it can homogeneously fill the receiving space
which is
formed between the conveyor means, and thus constitute a web-like carrier
which can be further processed.
The resulting web-like carrier can be compressed at the same time as or
after method step c) in accordance with method step d). That method step can
be effected in particular in a suitable press or roller. It is here therefore
that first
compacting of the web-like carrier occurs. In this step the carrier can
already
acquire substantially its desired thickness so that in subsequent processing
steps
only slight compacting needs to be effected and the further steps can thus
take
place in a particularly careful and gentle fashion, as is described in detail
hereinafter. In that case it is possible in particular to ensure that the
temperature of the carrier is cooled down to such an extent that suitable
compressibility can be made possible, achieving the desired result.
In a further method step e) further treatment of the carrier now takes
place, under the effect of pressure using a two-belt press. In this method
step in
particular the surface properties of the carrier can be adjusted. For example
smoothing of the surface can be effected in this method step. For that purpose
the previously compacted carrier can be treated under the action of pressure,
in
which case in particular the pressure can be selected to be low in such a way
that this second compression operation takes place only in a very small range.
For example compression can be effected in a range of <10%, <5%, in
particular <3%, of the total thickness of the carrier prior to the compressing
operation. For example compacting can be effected in a range of 0.2-0.3 mm,
with a plate thickness of 4.5 mm. Thus the configuration of the processing
apparatus in this method step can be in particular selected in dependence on a
desired adjustment in respect of the surface properties, which can be
particularly
gentle. Thus the two-belt press can serve as a calibration zone, in particular
for
adjusting the definitive surface properties like also the thickness of the
carrier.
In that respect in particular the use of a two-belt press can be
advantageous as particularly gentle and careful compressing steps are possible
with such a press and in addition the surface quality can be particularly
effectively adjusted in a defined fashion. Furthermore in particular the use
of a
belt press can permit high line speeds so that the entire procedure can permit
a
particularly high throughput rate.
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For example such a belt press which generally has a quite long processing
chamber in the direction in which the carrier is conveyed can have a plurality
of
temperature control zones, which can allow a temperature profile and thus
effective adjustment of the surface properties, even when high line speeds are
involved.
In addition for example by virtue of the provision of pneumatic cylinders it
is possible to provide for particularly uniform and definedly adjustable belt
tension in the two-belt press so that adjustment of the surface quality and
also
compression can be particularly exact. The belt press can have for example
steel
belts, for example without a coating or coated for example with
polytetrafluorethylene, and/or can be temperature-controlled for example by
thermal oil heating.
Smoothing or adjustment of the surface quality can signify in this step
that admittedly the uppermost surface is smoothed, structures or pores which
for example have already been formed are however not influenced or are
influenced only in a defined range, so that even after this method step they
can
still be present in the desired fashion, insofar as that is wanted. That can
be
made possible in particular by the use of a belt press with a suitable
temperature profile and with suitable pressure values.
In that respect it is further provided that the carrier is cooled prior to or
in
the two-belt press and thus in particular during or prior to method step e),
in
particular below the melting point or the softening point of a plastic
constituent
of the carrier material. In that case cooling can be effected only in a
limited
range so that the carrier admittedly still involves a temperature which is
increased in comparison with room temperature (22 C), but is below the
previously set increased temperature and in that respect preferably and
depending on the plastic used, below the melting point or the softening point
of
the plastic contained in the carrier material. That can be effected for
example by
a suitable choice of the temperature of the temperature control devices which
are disposed in the two-belt press or the carrier can be cooled or less heated
in
particular by temperature-control means arranged before the two-belt press.
Particularly by cooling of the carrier it is possible to produce a surface
configuration which in particular is of a high grade in terms of quality as
the
belts of the two-belt press which can be made for example from
14
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polytetrafluorethylene (Teflon) are spared stress in that case. In addition
dishing
or the occurrence of shrinkage cavities or pores can be prevented so that the
surface of the carrier can be particularly high-quality. Suitable temperatures
are
for example and non-limitingly in a range of below 130 C, for example in a
range
of between >80 C and <115 C, for example 120 C, for polyethylene.
In the further procedure a further method step f) then possibly involves
further cooling of the web-like carrier. The carrier can be cooled in
particular by
the provision of a cooling device having defined cooling stages to a
temperature
which corresponds to room temperature or which purely by way of example is in
a region of up to 20 C thereabove. For example there can be a plurality of
cooling zones to permit defined cooling of the carrier.
After cooling of the carrier produced the carrier can firstly be stored in
web-like form or as separate plate-like carriers and the method can next be
concluded. Preferably however further treatment steps directly follow, which
can
be performed for example without grinding, in particular so as to process the
produced carrier in such a way as to manufacture a finished panel, as is
described in detail hereinafter.
A further advantage is afforded if a material recess or recesses in respect
of the lower and/or upper arresting contour and the lower and/or upper
receiving contour are provided, wherein the material recess or recesses
locally
increase compressibility insofar as the force acting at the moment of locking
on
the receiving contour acts on a smaller surface area. The increased surface
pressure produces a greater travel distance for compression. Besides the
choice
of a suitable material for the carrier plate there is therefore also a
constructional
possible way of influencing the compressibility at the desired locations. Thus
for
example it is possible to provide material recesses of a tooth gap-like
configuration.
The underside of the receiving hook is preferably disposed in a plane
identical to the plane of the underside of the panel.
Each female latching element desirably has a latching surface directed
towards the top side or the underside of the panel, and each male latching
element has a complementary latching surface directed towards the respective
other side of the panel so that the latching surface of the female latching
element together with the latching surface of the male latching element in the
CA 02952703 2016-12-16
locked condition of two panels opposes movement of locked panels away from
each other perpendicularly to the panel plane.
Preferably the latching surface of the female latching element is in contact
with the latching surface of the male latching element in the locked condition
of
two panels. In that way the lower latching means contributes to firm locking
perpendicularly to the plane of assembled panels.
Alternatively there can be a gap between the latching surface of the
female latching element and the latching surface of the associated male
element
in the locked condition of two panels. That can simplify the assembly
procedure
if for example a relative displacement is to be implemented between the
transverse edges. A gap of a few tenths of a millimeter appears to be
sufficient,
preferably about 0.1 mm.
The panels can be so designed that during the joining movement firstly
the upper latching means and then the lower latching means are completely
brought together.
The horizontal locking surfaces of the hook profile portions are preferably
inclined with respect to the surface normal of the top side by an angle of
between 0 and 25 and are arranged substantially parallel to each other in
the
locked condition of two panels. The angle of inclination substantially depends
on
the configuration of the arresting contour and the positively locking contour,
in
particular on where the female or male latching element respectively is
arranged. An angle of inclination of between 7 and 25 has been found to be
desirable. The trend is that it is possible to provide a smaller angle of
inclination
if the arresting contour is provided with the female latching element and the
positively locking contour has the male latching element fitting thereto. The
smaller the angle of inclination, the correspondingly higher is the holding
force
to prevent separation in the plane of the assembled panels and perpendicularly
to the transverse edges in question. Therefore angles of inclination of <7
are
preferred and an angle of inclination of about 3 is particularly desirable.
In
principle a negative angle of inclination of the two horizontal locking
surfaces is
also possible. In that way that would produce a locking action perpendicularly
to
the panel plane. In the event of interchange of the female and the male
latching
element a larger angle of inclination is generally desirable so that the
arresting
contour and the positively locking contour can be connected together.
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The hook edge of the receiving hook can have remote from the body an
inclined sliding portion. This involves a surface which is inclined with
respect to
the panel plane and which simplifies insertion of the hook edge into the
arresting
recess in the arresting hook.
In a preferred configuration the arresting step on its side remote from the
body has an inclined sliding portion.
The inclined sliding portion is a surface which is inclined with respect to
the panel plane and which simplifies insertion of the arresting step in the
receiving recess in the receiving hook. It is desirably of such a
configuration that
it comes into contact with the positively locking contour. At the same time
the
horizontal locking surface of the arresting hook slides down along the
horizontal
locking surface of the receiving hook and forms a support means. In that way a
surface pressure is produced during the joining movement by virtue of the
contact between the inclined sliding portion and the positively locking
contour. In
particular this involves compression of the arresting contour and the
receiving
contour. The compression of those regions makes it possible to produce a
positively locking connection. The inclined sliding portion facilitates
locking of the
two panels.
The compressible regions of the receiving contour and the arresting
contour are elastically compressed. In the further joining movement the
arresting contour passes the positively locking contour until both have
reached a
position in which they fit into each other in positively locking relationship.
In that
way it is possible to produce a closed join. The horizontal locking surfaces
of the
two hook profiles are preferably then caused to bear snugly against each
other.
In order to be able to easily connect the panels there can be provided a
pair of pivot profile portions, namely a groove profile portion with an
undercut in
a groove wall and in matching relationship therewith a tongue profile portion
with undercut on the corresponding side of the tongue. That has the advantage
that panels can be desirably assembled in such a way that a fresh panel with a
pivot profile portion is fitted to the complementary pivot profile portion of
a
panel which has already been fitted, and is pivoted into the plane thereof. In
addition and also advantageously in that case the hook profile portion of the
fresh panel can be locked at the same time to the hook profile portion of a
panel
in the same row of panels. At the same time the pivotal movement provides that
17
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the arresting hook of the fresh panel is also moved downwardly in a scissor-
like
movement substantially in a vertical plane and is inserted into the receiving
hook of a panel disposed in the same row of panels. During the scissor-like
movement the arresting step firstly projects only at one end of the panel edge
into the receiving opening. When the scissor-like joining movement continues
the arresting step moves step by step into the receiving opening. When the
panels are finally in one plane the arresting contour and the positively
locking
contour are exactly fitted into each other; the transverse joining surfaces
are in
contact and form a closed join.
A transparent cover layer and/or a decorative layer can be provided at the
top side, with the body or the decorative layer being visible through the
transparent cover layer. The transparent cover layer serves to protect the
layer
beneath it. It can be provided with means which alleviate wear, for example
corundum particles, glass particles and so forth and/or can itself comprise
chemically hardening resistant material, for example a lacquer which is
hardened
by ultraviolet light or a hardenable resin layer like for example a melamine-
bearing resin layer.
A counterpart layer can be provided at the underside of the panel. That
acts as a balance in relation to the layers on the top side to counteract
warping
of the panel.
In addition there is proposed a possible way and thus a method with
which a fresh rectangular panel provided with two longitudinal edges and two
transverse edges can be locked at the same time to a previous row of panels
already assembled from identical panels and to an identical panel, which has
already been fitted, in the same row of panels, more specifically with the
proviso
that a first longitudinal edge is connected to the previous row of panels in
positively locking relationship by pivoting the fresh panel into the plane of
the
assembled panels, wherein at the same time a first transverse edge of the
fresh
panel is brought into positively locking engagement by a scissor-like movement
with a second transverse edge of the fitted panel in the same row of panels,
with
the further proviso that the first transverse edge of the panels respectively
has a
first transverse joining surface and the second transverse edge of the panels
respectively has a second transverse joining surface, wherein the first
transverse
joining surface is brought into contact at that end which is towards the first
18
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longitudinal edge with the second transverse joining surface of the fitted
panel in
the same row of panels, wherein the positively locking connection between the
longitudinal edge and the transverse edge of the fresh panel is produced by a
longitudinal join gap and a transverse join gap being produced between the
fresh panel and the previous row of panels, the wedge tip of the transverse
joining gap points in the direction of the previous row of panels and the
wedge
tip of the longitudinal join gap points in the direction of the free second
transverse edge of the fresh panel, and the fresh panel is finally pivoted
into the
plane of the assembled panels, wherein the positively locking engagement of
the
transverse edges and the longitudinal edges are completely assembled and the
wedge-shaped joining gaps are nullified. Due to the transverse joining gap the
transverse edges are a little displaced/shifted in their longitudinal
direction. The
displacement corresponds to the gap dimension at the widest point of the
transverse joining gap. To remove the displacement the transverse edges must
be moveable/displaceable relative to each other. It is then desirable if at
least
one latching means, for example the lower latching means, is of such a
configuration that there is a small gap, for example 0.1 mm, between latching
surfaces, in order to facilitate mobility of the transverse edges.
The longitudinal joining gap can be produced by the fresh panel being
moved temporarily out of its parallel orientation with respect to the previous
row
of panels and by the wedge tip of the longitudinal joining gap being produced
at
the remote end of the first longitudinal edge of the fresh panel.
The longitudinal joining gap on the other hand can be produced by the
fresh panel being temporarily moved out of its flat form, by being curved up
out
of its panel plane in the direction of its top side.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention is illustrated by way of example hereinafter in a drawing
and described in detail by reference to a number of embodiments by way of
example. In the drawing:
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a first pair of edges (longitudinal edges)
with pivot profile portions,
19
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Figures 2a-2c show complementary locking means of a second pair of
edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise joining movement thereof,
Figures 3a-3c show a first alternative embodiment of complementary
locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise
joining movement thereof,
Figures 4a-4c show a second alternative embodiment of complementary
locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise
joining movement thereof,
Figures 5a-5c show a third alternative embodiment of complementary
locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise
joining movement thereof,
Figures 6a-6c show a fourth alternative embodiment of complementary
locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise
joining movement thereof,
Figure 7 shows a portion of a panel with locking means of a compressible
configuration, and
Figures 8a-8c show diagrammatic views of the laying of a flooring with
panels according to the invention.
Detailed Description
Figure 1 shows a first pair of edges of a panel 1 and 1 respectively
according to the invention. This Figure shows a pair of longitudinal edges of
a
rectangular panel. The pair of longitudinal edges has complementary pivot
profile portions S. All positively locking profile portions known in the state
of the
art can be provided as such, which can be positively lockingly connected
together by inclinedly fitting a fresh panel to a previous row of panels and
then
pivoting a fresh panel 1' into the plane of the assembled panels.
The complementary pivot profile portions S shown in Figure 1 include a
groove profile portion 2 and a tongue profile portion 3. The groove profile
portion 2 has an upper groove wall 2a shorter than the lower groove wall 2b.
The lower groove wall is further provided with a recess 2c of an undercut
configuration for the tongue profile portion 3. The recess 2c also has a
horizontal
locking surface 2d. The tongue profile portion 3 is provided with a tongue top
side 3a and a tongue underside 3b which is arranged substantially parallel to
the
CA 02952703 2016-12-16
top side 4' of the fresh panel 1'. The tongue underside has an undercut
portion
3c and a horizontal locking surface 3d which cooperates with the horizontal
locking surface 2d of the lower groove wall 2b. The inclined positioning of
the
fresh panel 1' is clearly indicated in Figure 1 by the broken-line position of
the
tongue profile portion 3'. The tongue underside is placed on the longer lower
groove wall 2b. The fresh panel 1' is moved with the tongue tip leading into
the
groove profile portion 2 and the fresh panel l' is then pivoted into the plane
of
the fitted panel or the assembled panels. The undersides 12 and 12' of the
panels 1 and 1' are then in one plane.
A second pair of edges of another type is shown as respective portions
thereof in Figures 2a through 2c. This pair of edges is provided at the
transverse
edges of the panel 1 and 1' respectively. The panels 1 and 1' are identical
panels. Each individual panel has complementary profiles 5 and 6 respectively
at
opposite transverse edges of a pair of edges. In the case of the panel 1
therefore
the edge which is not shown has a profile portion identical to the profile
portion
5 of the panel 1' while in the case of the panel 1' the edge which is not
shown is
identical with the profile 6 of the panel 1.
For the sake of completeness it is noted that embodiments with
rectangular panels are also possible, whose first pair of edges (pair of
longitudinal edges) are formed with complementary profile portions which are
identical to the profile portions of the second pair of edges (pair of
transverse
edges).
The series in Figures 2a through 2c show in a plurality of steps the
implementation in principle of the joining movement for the purposes of
connecting and locking/latching the panels 1 and 1'.
The complementary profile portions 5 and 6 of each panel 1 and 1' form
complementary locking means in the form of hook profile portions H. The hook
profile portion of the panel 1 forms a receiving hook 7 and the hook profile
portion of the profile portion 1' forms an arresting hook 8 which fits into
the
receiving hook. In this case the two hook profile portions are so designed
that
arresting or upper latching is effected, which opposes movement of the panels
away from each other in the reverse direction. The panels 1 and 1' can thus
not
be separated from each other again, after locking/latching has occurred,
perpendicularly to the plane of the assembled panels.
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Each panel 1 and 1' includes a body 9 and 9' respectively, at which the
above-mentioned complementary locking means are arranged. The top side 4 of
the panels respectively forms a working surface. The body which can also be
referred to as the carrier plate in the present embodiment has a wood-plastic
composite material (WPC). Alternatively the carrier plate can comprise a
plastic,
for example a thermoplastic, elastomer or thermosetting plastic or a recycled
material consisting of the specified materials.
Provided on the receiving hook 7 remote from the body is a hook edge 10
and closer to the body is a receiving recess 11. The receiving recess 11 is
open
to the top side 4.
The arresting hook 8 is provided with an arresting recess 13 which is
arranged closer to the body and which is open to the underside 12, and has
remote from the body an arresting step 14. The arresting step fits in a
perpendicular joining direction T into the receiving recess 11 of the
receiving
hook 7. The arresting hook 8 further has a transverse joining surface 15
remote
from the body and also remote from the body an arresting contour 16 which has
a vertically locking action. The receiving hook 15 has close to the body a
transverse joining surface 17 and likewise close to the body a positively
locking
contour 18 which fits together with the arresting contour 16 of the arresting
hook 8 in positively locking relationship. In that way an upper latching means
Vo
is formed, with which locking can be implemented, perpendicularly to the panel
plane.
In addition the arresting hook 8 has, arranged close to the body, a
horizontal locking surface 19 arranged at its arresting step 14. In fitting
relationship therewith the receiving hook 7 has, arranged remote from the body
in the receiving recess 11, a horizontal locking surface 20 cooperating with
the
horizontal locking surface 19 of the arresting hook 8.
The receiving hook 7 is provided at its receiving recess 11 with a
constricted receiving opening 21. The arresting step 14 can be inserted
substantially in a perpendicular joining direction T into the receiving recess
11,
in other words, in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the locked panels.
Referring to Figures 2a through 2c the panel is arranged with the
receiving hook 7 on a firm substrate (not shown). The arresting step 14 of the
panel 1' is moved downwardly for the purposes of locking the panel edges
22
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perpendicular to the panel plane (that is to say vertically). The arresting
contour
16, that is remote from the body, of the arresting hook 7 has an upper
arresting
contour 23a which is compressible and is provided with a female latching
element 16a (recess shape). The female latching element 16a has a latching
surface 16b which is directed towards the top side 4' of the panel 1' and
which is
set back behind the plane of the transverse joining surface 15 of the
arresting
hook 6. The positively locking contour 18 which is close to the body of the
receiving hook 7 has an upper receiving contour 22a which is compressible and
is provided with a male latching element 18a. The male latching element 18a
has a latching surface 18b which is directed towards the underside 12 of the
panel 1 and projects beyond the plane of the transverse joining surface 17 of
the
receiving hook 7. In the locked condition the latching surface 18b engages
behind the female latching element 16a of the arresting hook 8.
The upper receiving contour 22a embraces the male latching element 18a.
In addition the compressible upper arresting contour 23a embraces the female
latching element 16a of the arresting hook 8. The upper arresting contour 23a
thus substantially embraces that material region which forms the latching
surface 16b. At an end of the latching surface 16b the female latching element
forms a free tip. Under a load acting in point form from the exterior on the
free
tip it yields; it is elastically compressed and flattened off. That occurs
when the
compressible male latching element 18a is brought into point contact with the
free tip of the female latching element 16a. In that situation the male
latching
element 18a is in turn flattened out.
The compressibility afforded in that way in respect of the male latching
element 18a and the female latching element is essentially based on the
material property of the material forming the body. In the present example it
is
of a hardness (Brinell hardness) of 40 N/mm2 and a modulus of elasticity of
4000 Nimm2.
By virtue of that compressibility the arresting contour 16 of the arresting
hook 8 can be particularly easily fitted into the positively locking contour
18 of
the receiving hook 7.
In addition Figure 2b shows that the receiving hook 7 at its hook edge 10
has an outside surface which in the assembled condition of two panels does not
23
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involve any contact with an oppositely disposed surface, close to the body, of
the
arresting hook 8.
Figures 3a-3c show a development of the above-described embodiment in
which there is provided an additional lower latching means Vu which improves
the locking action perpendicularly to the plane of the panels. Identical
references
are used in all the following Figures for identical design features.
Referring to Figure 3a the arresting hook 8 - for making a lower latching
means Vu - is provided with a female latching element 13a. It has a latching
surface 13b directed towards the top side 4' of the panel 1'. In fitting
relationship therewith the receiving hook 7 is provided with a male latching
element 10a. That has a latching surface 10b directed towards the underside 12
of the panel 1 so that it can cooperate with the latching surface 13b of the
female latching element 13a.
The arresting hook 8 is so designed that the arresting recess 13 of the
arresting hook 8 is expanded in the joining operation and at the same time the
hook edge 10 is upset. For that purpose, provided on the arresting hook 8 is a
compressible lower arresting contour 23b while provided on the receiving hook
is
a compressible lower receiving contour 22b. The lower arresting contour 23b is
substantially that material region that forms the female latching element 13a
having the latching surface 13b. It has a free tip which is provided remote
from
the body at the latching surface 13b and which can be well elastically
flattened
out when it comes into point contact with the male latching element 10a of the
lower receiving contour 22b. In contact with each other, both sides flatten
out,
namely the male latching element 10a and also the female latching element at
the free tip of the latching surface 13b.
Figures 4a-4c show an alternative to the previous Figures. In this
alternative the female and male latching elements are interchanged, in other
words the upper latching means Vo has been modified in such a way that the
arresting hook 8 has a compressible upper arresting contour 23a whose latching
element 16c is male and an upwardly facing latching surface 16b. In matching
relationship therewith the positively locking contour of the receiving hook 7
has
a compressible upper receiving contour 22a with a female latching element 18c
and a downwardly facing latching surface 18d. In the locked condition the
latching surfaces 16d/18d are in contact with each other and prevent
24
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detachment of the connected panels in a direction perpendicular to the plane
of
the panels. The lower latching means Vu is in contrast identical to that lower
latching means which was proposed in Figures 3a-3c.
A further alternative is shown in Figures 5a-5c. This again differs from the
previous Figures by interchange of the male and female latching elements of
the
lower latching means V. Here the compressible lower arresting contour 23b of
the arresting hook 8 has a male latching element 13c while the compressible
lower receiving contour 22b of the receiving hook 7 is provided with a female
latching element 10c which includes a latching surface 10d. The
compressibility
of the lower arresting contour 22b is substantially based on that material
region
which forms the latching surface 10d.
A free tip is pronounced at an end of the latching surface 10d of the
female latching element. Under a load acting in point relationship from the
exterior on the free tip it yields; it is elastically compressed and flattened
out.
That occurs when the compressible male latching element 13c comes into point
contact with the free tip of the female latching element 10c. In that case the
male latching element 13c in turn yields and is flattened out.
A last alternative is shown in Figures 6a-6c. Here the upper latching
means corresponds to that of the embodiment of Figures 2a-2c/3a-3c while the
lower latching means Vu is identical to the lower latching means which were
described with reference to Figures 5a-5c.
Finally Figure 7 shows an example of a development of the panel as
shown in Figures 2a-2c. Of that panel, Figure 7 shows a portion of the panel
edge with the receiving hook 7. The hook edge 10 remote from the body has a
flat outside surface. There is provided a compressible upper receiving contour
22a having a male latching element 18e. The particularity of this embodiment
is
that the male latching element 18e is provided with material recesses 18f. The
male latching element 18e involves the basic shape of a rib of approximately
triangular cross-section. In this arrangement the material recesses 18f are
implemented in the form of groove-shaped gaps. The gaps alternate with the
remaining rib portions of the male latching element 18e. That provides a "comb-
like" configuration for the male latching element. That configuration
increases
the compressibility of the male latching element. The rib portions can expand
into the gaps when they are compressed.
CA 02952703 2016-12-16
In the present example the groove walls of the material recesses 18f are
arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plane of the panel.
It will be appreciated that the material recesses 18f can be of any other
configuration which increases the compressibility of the male latching element
18e.
A variant which is not shown provides that the groove walls of the
material recesses are arranged in planes which are respectively inclined at an
acute angle relative to the plane of the panel.
Another variant provides that the material recesses are to be so arranged
that they form cavities in the interior of the compressible material region.
They
can be of such a design configuration that they are not visible from the
exterior.
In the case of the female latching elements 10c, 13a, 16a and 18c of the
above-described embodiments it is also possible for those material regions
which
have to be compressed for a locking action to be provided with additional
material recesses which also increase the compressibility in the region of the
respective female latching element.
For fitting a fresh panel 24 provided with two longitudinal edges and two
transverse edges, in accordance with Figures 8a-8c it is proposed how that
panel
can be locked to a previous row of panels P2 already assembled from identical
panels, and at the same time to an identical panel 25 which has already been
fitted in the same row of panels P3.
Figures 8a-8c show the production of a flooring comprising panels
according to the invention. The Figures show portions of the rows of panels P1-
P3. The fresh rectangular panel 24 is only diagrammatically shown. The panels
being used involve an embodiment having a pair of longitudinal edges 24a/24b
which is provided with complementary positively locking pivot profile portions
S
and a pair of transverse edges 24c/24d which have complementary hook profile
portions H. The pivot profile portions S serve to interconnect panels of
different
rows of panels. In this embodiment the hook profile portions H serve to
connect
together panels of the same row of panels P3. The hook profile portions H of
the
pair of transverse edges can be of such a configuration as is shown in one of
the
embodiments of Figures 2a through 6c.
Figure 8 shows how a fresh panel 24 is fitted in the foremost row of
panels P3, which panel 24 is to be locked both to the previous row of panels
P2
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CA 02952703 2016-12-16
and also to a transverse edge 25b of an adjacent panel 25 in the same row P3.
The fresh panel 24 is fitted to the front panel row P2 inclinedly in relation
to the
plane of the assembled panels and with one of its pivot profile portions S.
Then,
it is locked to the previous row P2 by pivotal movement into the plane of the
assembled panels. At the same time the hook profile portion (arresting hook 8)
of the fresh panel 24, that is provided on the transverse edge 24c, is also
locked
to the hook profile portion (receiving hook 7) of the panel 25 in the same row
P3, that is provided at the transverse edge 25d. While the fresh panel 24 is
being pivoted into the plane of the assembled panels the arresting hook 8 is
at
the same time brought into engagement with the receiving hook 7 in a scissor-
like joining movement.
The positively locking connection of the longitudinal edge 24a and the
transverse edge 24c of the fresh panel 24 is implemented as shown in Figure
8c,
insofar as a longitudinal joining gap L is produced between the fresh panel 24
and the previous row P2 and a transverse joining gap Q is implemented between
the transverse edge 25d of the panel 25 and the transverse edge 24c of the
fresh panel 24. The wedge tip of the transverse joining gap Q points in the
direction of the previous row P2 of panels and the wedge tip of the
longitudinal
joining gap L points in the direction of the free second transverse edge 24d
of
the fresh panel 24. When finally the fresh panel 24 is pivoted into the plane
of
the assembled panels the positively locking engagement of the transverse edges
24c/25d and the longitudinal edge 24a with the previous row P2 of panels is
implemented in its completely assembled condition and the wedge-shaped
joining gaps Q and L are eliminated.
The longitudinal joining gap L is produced by the fresh panel 24 being
temporarily moved out of its parallel orientation with the previous row P2 of
panels and the wedge tip Of the longitudinal joining gap L is produced at the
remote end of the first longitudinal edge 24a of the fresh panel 24.
27
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List of references
1 panel
1' panel
2 groove profile portion
2a upper groove wall
2b lower groove wall
2c recess
2d horizontal locking surface
3 tongue profile
3a tongue top side
3b tongue underside
3c undercut configuration
3d horizontal locking surface
4 top side
4' top side
5 profile portion
6 profile portion
7 receiving hook
8 arresting hook
9 body
9' body
10 hook edge
10a male latching element
10b latching surface
10c female latching element
10d latching surface
11 receiving recess
12 underside
12' underside
13 arresting recess
13a female latching element
13b latching surface
28
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13c male latching element
13d latching surface
14 arresting step
14a inclined sliding portion
15 transverse joining surface (arresting hook)
16 arresting contour
16a female latching element
16b latching surface
16c male latching element
16d latching surface
17 transverse joining surface (receiving hook)
18 positively locking contour
18a male latching element
18b latching surface
18c female latching element
18d latching surface
19 horizontal locking surface (arresting hook)
horizontal locking surface (receiving hook)
21 receiving opening
20 22a upper receiving contour
22b lower receiving contour
23a upper arresting contour
23b lower arresting contour
24 fresh panel
24a longitudinal edge
24b longitudinal edge
24c transverse edge
24d transverse edge
25 panel
25d transverse edge
hook profile portion
longitudinal joining gap
transverse joining gap
pivot profile portion
29
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T joining direction
Vo upper latching means
Vu lower latching means
